AN initiative to help reduce unemployment in Down District has been launched by Down Business Centre, the area’s business-start support agency.
The centre is running a free programme to help those currently out of work to identify what they need to do to get back into employment or alternatively to look at ways of becoming self-employed through taking a business idea to the next stage.
Under the banner title of ‘Exploring Enterprise 2’ the programme will provide accredited training and mentoring covering all aspects of starting up a business. Participants, however, do not need to have a specific business idea to join – the key aim is to improve the employability of participants in areas such as CV writing or interview skills, as well as business planning.
The project is part-financed by the European Social Fund, the Department for Employment and Learning, Enterprise Northern Ireland and the Local Enterprise Agencies under the Northern Ireland ESF Programme 2007 -13.
To be eligible for the programme, participants must currently be over 16 and unemployed, and they must be able to commit to two weeks of training. The activities will be held at the Business Centre’s premises at Down Business Park in Downpatrick.
The key benefits to participants are that the programme is:
* Â Completely FREE
*  Will provide a qualification – QCF level 2 in Understanding Business Enterprise (CCEA)
*Will help them meet new people; and
* Â Will give them new skills to enter self-employment/employment
The programme involves up to three hours of pre-assessment mentoring and more than twelve hours of individually-tailored support.
There will also be seven half-day training sessions.
For more information contact Janice or Andrea at Down Business Centre (02844616416) or by email at business@downbc.co.uk
